11 Amazing Volunteer Programs Abroad

Revolutionary Renegades! Hopeless Hooligans! Dudes of Do-Good-ers!

Even on a budget, traveling is a luxury. As a tourist, all evidence of poverty is usually hidden from sight and overpowered by Holiday Inns and Grand this-or-that hotels. As a backpacker, your travels are much closer to the ground floor. Along with famous sights, tastes and sounds, you see the true state of places. As a backpacker, in comparison with a tourist, you see yourself as poor. But, as a traveling American, in comparison with most locals, your idea of poor gets drastically redefined. This often has an endearing affect on young travelers. A variety of volunteerships associated with every cause imaginable are available around the world. Here is a breakdown of volunteer programs abroad that add some meaning to your travels:

Big Kids

Adults might not appreciate your pumping energy level but kids just can’t get enough.

Right to Play (righttoplay.com) is available in 23 countries including: Ethiopia; Peru; Mozambique and China. It focuses on teaching disadvantaged children the importance of working together to achieve life goals through sports. This means you get to run around and play ball (like you do for fun) in amazing places with kids who could use a friend.

Willing Workers of South Africa (wwisa.co.za) offers volunteer programs situated minutes away from the mountains, beach and elephant sanctuaries. Volunteer camp counselors motivate the children of the Kurland Village by engaging them in climbing obstacle courses and taking part in a mean games of tug of war. Remember being a camper? The freedom from your parents, the fun you had with counselors and peers was something you brought home every summer, right? By volunteering with WWISA, you give kids in the program a chance to build these kind of memories of their own.

Language Corps (languagecorps.com) Whether you know it or not, speaking English is a huge asset. Language Corps offers volunteer programs to English speakers for teaching opportunities in Cambodia, Thailand Vietnam, Ecuador and Mexico. No teaching experience is necessary as the program provides you with classroom technique training and all the necessary teaching materials. The program provides a TESOL course, accommodations, excursions, medical services, local language training and a handy cell phone. By teaching someone English, you essentially give them an advantage in their search for jobs in this globally outsourced economy. You give them a tool they can widely use to better their own lives.

Captain Planetting It

That’s right kids, you can actually live your childhood dreams of becoming a Planeteer by getting involved with conservation and environmental coalitions.

Habitat for Humanity Global Village (habitat.org) offers the chance to experience other cultures while raising awareness on global poverty. Volunteers, together with members of the hosting community, build homes for those in need. Remember those commercials of people pushing up half-built house walls together happily? Currently, they are preparing for trips to: Bangkok, Thailand; Macedonia and Kenya.

Peace Corps (peacecorps.org); United Nations Volunteer (unv.org); and Global Volunteers (globalvolunteers.org) are well organized foundations that provide volunteers the opportunity to work with community development. The specific duties and responsibilities range widely from agriculture to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment assistance and refugee work.

Andean Bear Conservation Project (andeanbear.org) based in Ecuador, this program strives to protect endangered bears from complete extinction. Volunteers get the rare chance to hike through breathtaking terrains and collect data by tracking these bears in their natural habitats. Following a bear around a scenic forest sounds way better than sitting in traffic on your way to work.

Finding an organization that matches your interests will make the volunteering experience even more memorable. Well established NGOs are a great way to get started but less popular organizations are well worth a shot.

Ladies, In the Mighty Words of Rosie, We Can Do It!

Women give life, which is enough to get a little appreciation. But in many countries, women are still considered second class citizens and are in a constant struggle to support themselves and their families.

Organizations such as:

Women in Progress (womeninprogress.org);

Social Development Voluntary Services Nepal (sdvsnepal.org/womenempowerment);

Deccan Developmental Society India (ddsindia.com) are all about hookin’ sisters up!

These programs provide training and counseling with the ultimate goal of developing small, self-sustaining businesses owned and operated by women. Through employment, the women develop self-confidence, empowerment and surround themselves with a network community that cares. Volunteer duties range from assistance with the start-up and maintenance of their businesses to taking care of their children which allows them to work. Volunteers with a business background are welcomed but the doors are also open to adventurous, patient and enthusiastic travelers. Maybe meet some potential suga mamas in the process.

You can also informally volunteer along your travel route by chatting with students at a local school to help improve their English or handing out books and pencils instead of giving money or candy to street kids.

Whether it’s one day or one year, traveling is a privilege and making a contribution is the least you can do.

Written By: Lils

Co-Written By: Anna Starostinetskaya

Astar

Head Writer/Editor-in-Chief of Off Track Planet. Pescatarians are not just cheating vegetarians; we're our own breed and the extra protein makes us more feisty! Rawr